Career Timeline of Pete Rose: Major Achievements and Milestones

How Pete Rose built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.

Pete Rose, nicknamed "Charlie Hustle," was a prominent MLB player and manager. Best known for his time with the Cincinnati Reds' "Big Red Machine" in the 1970s, he also played for the Philadelphia Phillies and Montreal Expos. Rose is MLB's all-time leader in hits (4,256) and several other categories. He won three World Series championships and an MVP award. As a manager for the Reds (1984-1989) his career was overshadowed after receiving a lifetime ban from baseball in 1989 for betting on baseball games.

Sections (7)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals Legacy & Impact

1960: Signed Professional Contract

Upon graduation from high school in 1960, Pete Rose signed a professional contract for $7,000 with the Cincinnati Reds.

April 8, 1963: Major League Debut

On April 8, 1963, Pete Rose made his Major League debut against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Crosley Field and drew a walk in his first plate appearance.

1963: Opportunity Due to Injury

During a spring training game in 1963, Pete Rose got his chance to play when the Reds' regular second baseman, Don Blasingame, was injured.

1963: Began MLB Career

In 1963, Pete Rose began his Major League Baseball (MLB) career.

1968: Top Five MVP

In 1968, Rose finished in the top five vote-getters for the National League's Most Valuable Player.

1969: Top Five MVP

In 1969, Rose finished in the top five vote-getters for the National League's Most Valuable Player.

1970: World Series Appearance

In 1970, Pete Rose played in one of his six World Series games. In 67 postseason games, he had a .321 batting average.

1973: Won NL MVP Award

In 1973, Pete Rose led the league with 230 hits and a .338 batting average, winning the NL MVP award and leading "the Big Red Machine" to the National League Championship Series.

1973: National League's Most Valuable Player

In 1973, Rose was voted the National League's Most Valuable Player.

1975: Moved to Third Base and Won World Series MVP

In 1975, Pete Rose moved to third base for the Reds and earned World Series MVP honors, leading the team to their first championship since 1940 in a seven-game triumph over the Boston Red Sox. He was also awarded the Hickok Belt as the top professional athlete of the year, as well as Sports Illustrated magazine's "Sportsman of the Year" award.

1975: Top Five MVP

In 1975, Rose finished in the top five vote-getters for the National League's Most Valuable Player.

1976: Repeated as World Series Champion

In 1976, Pete Rose was a major force in helping the Cincinnati Reds repeat as World Series champions.

1976: Top Five MVP

In 1976, Rose finished in the top five vote-getters for the National League's Most Valuable Player.

1976: Reds Swept NLCS and World Series

In 1976, the Cincinnati Reds swept the Philadelphia Phillies in the NLCS and the New York Yankees in the World Series.

April 29, 1978: Career-High Three Home Runs

On April 29, 1978, Pete Rose hit a career-high three home runs against the New York Mets at Shea Stadium.

1979: Signed with Phillies

In 1979, Pete Rose signed a four-year, $3.2-million contract with the Philadelphia Phillies, becoming the highest-paid athlete in team sports at the time.

1979: Led league in on-base percentage

In 1979, Rose led the league in on-base percentage.

1980: MLB Refuses Participation in Phillies Anniversary

In 1980, MLB refused to allow Pete Rose to participate in 1980 Phillies anniversary celebrations.

1980: Won First World Series Title

In 1980, Pete Rose and the Philadelphia Phillies won their first World Series title.

1980: World Series Championship with the Phillies

In 1980, Pete Rose won his third World Series championship, playing for the Philadelphia Phillies.

1981: Phillies Earned Division Title

In 1981, the Phillies earned a division title in the first half of the strike-shortened season.

October 1983: Granted Release from Phillies

In late October 1983, Pete Rose was granted an unconditional release from the Philadelphia Phillies after refusing a more limited playing role.

April 13, 1984: 4,000th Career Hit

On April 13, 1984, Pete Rose doubled off the Phillies' Jerry Koosman for his 4,000th career hit, becoming the second player in the 4,000 hit club.

August 15, 1984: Traded Back to Reds

On August 15, 1984, the Montreal Expos traded Pete Rose back to the Cincinnati Reds for infielder Tom Lawless and Rose was immediately named player-manager.

1984: Began Managing the Reds

In 1984, Pete Rose began managing the Cincinnati Reds.

1984: Signed with Expos

Months after being released, in 1984, Pete Rose signed a one-year contract with the Montreal Expos.

September 11, 1985: Rose Breaks Cobb's All-Time Hits Record

On September 11, 1985, Pete Rose achieved his 4,192nd hit, surpassing Ty Cobb's all-time hits record, with a single off Eric Show of the San Diego Padres. ABC's Wide World of Sports subsequently named Rose their Athlete of the Year.

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1985: Start as Reds Manager

In 1985, Pete Rose began his first full season as manager of the Cincinnati Reds. During his four full seasons at the helm (1985–1988), the Reds posted four second-place finishes in the NL West division.

August 17, 1986: Rose's Final Career At-Bat

On August 17, 1986, Pete Rose had his final career at-bat, resulting in a strikeout against Goose Gossage of the San Diego Padres.

November 11, 1986: Rose Dropped from Roster and Unofficially Retires

On November 11, 1986, Pete Rose was dropped from the Cincinnati Reds' roster and unofficially retired as a player, concluding his career with a .303 lifetime batting average.

1986: End of MLB Playing Career

Pete Rose's MLB playing career ended in 1986.

1988: Rose's Fourth Season as Manager

In 1988, Pete Rose managed his fourth full season as the Reds manager. During his four full seasons at the helm (1985-1988), the Reds posted four second-place finishes in the NL West division.

August 24, 1989: Rose's Tenure as Reds' Manager Ends

On August 24, 1989, Pete Rose's tenure as manager of the Cincinnati Reds came to an end. As manager, he had a career record of 426–388.

1989: End of Managing Career with the Reds

In 1989, Pete Rose's managerial career with the Cincinnati Reds came to an end.

1999: Participation in All-Century Team Introduction

In 1999, Pete Rose was allowed to participate in the pre-game introduction of the All-Century team before Game Two of the World Series, receiving the loudest ovation from the crowd at Turner Field in Atlanta, Georgia, despite never having been a member of the Braves.

2002: Appearance During World Series

In 2002, Pete Rose appeared during the World Series in a Mastercard-sponsored event recalling "Baseball's Most Memorable Moments", where fans voted Rose's record-breaking hit over Ty Cobb as the sixth most memorable moment in baseball history.

September 2010: 25th Anniversary Celebration of 4,192nd Hit

In September 2010, MLB allowed Pete Rose to participate in a celebration at Great American Ball Park of the 25th anniversary of his 4,192nd hit, while MLB otherwise refused to allow Rose to participate in other events in Cincinnati.

June 16, 2014: Guest Manager for Bridgeport Bluefish

On June 16, 2014, Pete Rose managed the Bridgeport Bluefish for one game, coaching first base and signing autographs as the Bluefish defeated the Lancaster Barnstormers, 2–0. This did not violate his lifetime ban because the Bluefish played in the independent Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.

April 16, 2015: Hired by Fox Sports

On April 16, 2015, it was announced that Pete Rose had been hired by Fox Sports to serve as a guest studio color analyst for MLB coverage on Fox and Fox Sports 1, appearing on the MLB on Fox pregame show as well as MLB Whiparound, America's Pregame and Fox Sports Live.

May 11, 2015: Fox Sports 1 Debut

On May 11, 2015, Pete Rose made his Fox Sports 1 debut as a guest studio color analyst for MLB coverage.

2015: Rose Participates in MLB All-Star Game Festivities

In 2015, the year before his retirement, Selig stated that Pete Rose could participate in the festivities for the 2015 MLB All-Star Game, held in Cincinnati, and Rose took the field alongside Reds teammates prior to the game.

2016: Reds Retire Rose's Jersey

In 2016, Pete Rose had his jersey retired by the Reds, an event that had to be approved by MLB.

August 2017: Let Go by Fox Sports

In August 2017, Pete Rose was let go by Fox Sports when the details of his sexual relationship with a teenager in the 1970s was revealed after he attempted to sue John Dowd.